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Environmental campaigners want the 'full weight of the
law' to be brought to bear following the destruction of
two ancient ring forts.
Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE)
have written to Environment Minister John Gormley calling
for prosecutions to follow the recent destruction of two north
Cork ring forts - fortified settlements with raised walls
of stone or banks of earth.
The demolished ring forts were located in the townland of
Knockacareagh, near Killmurray in north Cork.
The group says it has confirmed with the Heritage Service
of Cork County Council that the two listed ring forts were
levelled.
A spokesman for the environmental group said gardaí
visited the site because of the the failure of an individual
to notify the intention to work under the National Monuments
Act.
"There remain elements who believe they can destroy these
sites at will because of the historic lack of enforcement.
The full weight of the law must be brought to bear in this
case. The message must go out across Ireland that (this) will
not be tolerated and the national heritage will be protected."
It is understood that archaeologists from the Department
of the Environment's National Monuments section are liaising
with gardaí in north Cork as part of the investigation.
Ring forts were built and occupied between circa 400
AD and 1200 AD. About 35,000 ring fort sites are identifiable
in Ireland today. Only about 250 have been archaeologically
investigated.
Source - The Irish Independent
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